Last week, I wrote about why so many of us love Savasana—that wonderful part at the end of a gentle or chair yoga class when we finally get to stop moving and simply rest.
But here’s something I’ve noticed after years of teaching:
Lying down doesn’t necessarily mean we’re relaxing.
Sometimes I look around the room during Savasana and see someone lying perfectly still, but their body is still working.
Their arms are held close against their sides. Their legs are pressed together. Their shoulders are slightly lifted. Maybe their hands are still holding tension.
They’ve stopped moving, but they haven’t necessarily stopped holding.
Are you giving your body room to relax?
Think about how you normally lie down.
If you’re on your back, are your arms tucked closely against your sides? Are your legs held together?
Now imagine letting your arms move a little farther away from your body. Let your legs open comfortably. Allow your feet to relax. Give your shoulders some room.
Does simply imagining that feel different?
In this week’s Mindful Monday video, I demonstrate the difference because sometimes it’s easier to recognize tension when we can actually see it.
And once we begin noticing it, we can start asking:
Where am I still making an effort?
Getting comfortable is part of resting
We spend so much of our lives doing.
We sit at computers. We drive. We carry things. We exercise. We take care of other people. And when life is particularly stressful, we may even find ourselves physically bracing without realizing we’re doing it.
Then we finally lie down and expect our bodies to immediately understand:
Okay. Relax now.
But sometimes our bodies need a little help.
That might mean moving your arms or legs. It might mean placing something underneath your knees. Maybe your head needs support. Maybe lying flat on your back isn’t comfortable at all.
There isn’t one perfect position for Savasana.
The question isn’t “Am I doing this correctly?”
It’s “What would help my body feel supported enough to rest?”
Give yourself permission to adjust
This is something I encourage my students to do all the time.
Move.
Adjust.
Use a prop.
Change positions.
And if something doesn’t feel good, don’t stay there simply because you think that’s what Savasana is supposed to look like.
Your Savasana doesn’t have to look like the person beside you.
You may even discover that lying on the floor isn’t the best way for you to relax. Rest can happen with your legs supported, lying on your side, or even sitting comfortably in a chair.
The goal isn’t to create the perfect yoga pose.
The goal is to create the conditions that allow you to rest.
Notice what you’re still holding
So the next time you lie down, before you tell yourself to relax, take a moment to notice your body.
Where are you still working?
Where are you holding yourself together?
And is there one small adjustment that might allow you to soften a little more?
You don’t have to force yourself to relax.
Start by getting comfortable.
Then see what happens.
Learn to relax at The Art of Rest
If relaxing doesn’t come easily to you, that’s exactly what we’ll explore together at The Art of Rest on Saturday, November 7.
We won’t simply tell you to lie down and relax.
We’ll help you discover how to get comfortable in your body so that relaxation has a chance to happen. We’ll explore ways to use pillows, blankets, bolsters, and other props to support your body and take away unnecessary effort. And if lying on the floor doesn’t work for you, we’ll offer alternatives—including ways to experience deep rest from a chair.
Then we’ll use gentle movement, Yoga Nidra, and sound bowls to help your body and mind settle and give you an opportunity to experience deep rest.
The Art of Rest begins at 11:45 a.m. Eastern in Port Orange and live online, so you can join us from wherever you are.
Learn more and join us for The Art of Rest
Because sometimes learning how to rest begins with something very simple:
Getting comfortable enough to let go.